Papua Police opened fire on protestors in Manokwari, shooting two and injuring three others — including a Jakarta Globe contributor — in the latest crackdown on pro-independence groups in this restive province.
Tuesday morning's West Papua National Committee-sponsored (KNPB) rally
began near the State University of Papua (Unipa) in Manokwari, said
human rights activist Markus Haluk. Some 300 protestors attempted to
march to nearby Borarsi field when police and the Indonesian Military
(TNI) blocked their path.
Police demanded the protestors remain
at the university and began taking photographs of those involved. The
protestors responded by throwing stones at the officers.
Two officers were injured by the protestors, Papua Police spokesman Adj. Comr. Gede Sumerta said.
Police
opened fire, shooting two of the protestors and injuring three others,
Markus said. Eleven were arrested including KNPB head Alex Nekenem,
according to activists and Antara News Agency reports.
Both brass and rubber bullet casing were found at the scene, Ferry Marisan, director of the human rights group Elsham, said.
Police attempted to shut the rally down because the organizers failed to apply for the proper permits, Markus said.
But pro-independence groups are never granted a permit to hold a demonstration in Papua, he explained.
“Any
kind of rally linked to human rights violations in Papua could never
get a permit from the police,” he said. “They conducted a peaceful
demonstration, but police were fully armed.”
Gede was unaware Papua Police shot two people at the protest.
Ferry said the police’s reaction was unwarranted.
“[The]
Indonesian government in every campaign said they would not use
violence,” said Ferry, who characterized the protest as peaceful and
organized. “None of [the protestors] even brought the Morning Star
flag.”
Other protests were held in Waena, Sentani and Jayapura.
Jakarta
Globe stringer and SuaraPapua.com reporter Oktovianus Pogau was choked
and beaten by police as he attempted to report on the protest.
Oktovianus
was videotaping the scene when he was approached by a plainclothes
officer and told to leave. When he refused a second officer attacked him
from behind.
“[A] policeman in a uniform came and choked my neck
while he threatened me and told me to leave the location,” Oktovianus
said. “I tried to escape and told him that I’m a journalist... but
[another] policeman punched me in the face.”
Oktovianus was
pulled from the scene by fellow journalists. He showed the officers his
press credentials before the second attack took place.
It was
the second assault on journalists in Indonesia in the past week. On Oct.
16, members of the TNI attacked five journalists reporting on a downed
military aircraft in Penkanbaru, Riau.
Riau Pos photographer
Didik Herwanto was beaten and choked by an officer with the Indonesian
Air Force in a widely spread video.
The attack garnered widespread condemnation in Indonesia. Lt. Col. Robert Simanjuntak later apologized.
Oktovianus
is the second Jakarta Globe contributor to be injured on the job while
reporting in Papua. Last year, long-time writer Banjir Ambarita was
stabbed in Jayapura after reporting on allegations of sexual abuse of
female inmates by officers in a Jayapura Police detention center.
Banjir survived the attack but said the stabbing left him “deeply traumatized” and wary of reporting on government abuse.
In
2011, two journalists working in Papua were killed, according to the
Southeast Asian Press Alliance. Eight were kidnapped and 18 others
attacked during the course of their work.
Foreign media is banned
for reporting in Papua without a special permit. In 2011, only three
foreign media outlets were granted approval, the press organization
said.
Comments
Another confirmation of Democracy - Indonesian style..
Indonesia has freedom of speech as long as you say what the government wants you to. Why not admit that the country is in fact a military run one, Have you noticed that every time SBY gives a speech he is surrounded my military officers? You never see that in a cilvilian government
stupid and Poor Policemen!
It is disgusting.
Democrasy - dont make me laugh. Indonesia under Yudhoyono has turned into a military/police state.
We need to be increasing worried as 2014 approaches. He has much in place.
It reflects about the prosperity that couldn't be felt by papuan residents so that there is some kind of movement like this (that demands the freedom). If this problem is tracked down all of us will find one answer: government's fault. It's just about economy
@antifreeze - in military jargon in would be called "eliminated" - always avoid the word 'dead'!
" shooting two and injuring three others "
......so this means two dead? Tell it like it is please.